Diwali draws 900 to Manila celebration

More than 900 people gathered at SM Mall of Asia recently for a Diwali celebration that brought Indian, Filipino and Southeast Asian communities together through music, dance and traditional dress.

Organized by the Indian Cultural Association of the Philippines, the event featured Indian classical and Bollywood dances alongside folk performances, an Indonesian cultural presentation and a parade of traditional costumes from Asean and BRICS countries.

Indian Ambassador Harsh Kumar Jain attended with his family, joining fellow ambassadors, diplomats and members of the Indian community.

The program also featured “One Asean, One Rhythm, One Light,” a cultural presentation reflecting the festival’s theme, “One World. One Light.”

Jain invoked the Indian philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, or “The World is One Family,” to emphasize the role of cultural exchanges in bringing nations closer.

Diwali, widely known as the Festival of Lights, is one of India’s major religious and cultural celebrations, traditionally associated with the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil.